Tasted double blind. Floral, red cherry and berry, nicely mature. Good length and textures kept adding nuance. Very tasty, but I'd consider this near the end of its optimal drinking window.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted double blind. Came across slightly as Chateauneuf, from a very good and well balanced vintage. Black and red plum with some dark chocolate. Moderate weight with very good balance and very good length. Just entering its peak drinking window.
Tasted double blind. Seemed clearly Cali Cab, somehow I correctly thought it from Sonoma, probably just to be a contrarian. Nicely fresh, seemed younger than 2004 with a slightly sweet finish. Moderate concentration. Elegantly styled and structured.
Tasted double blind. I thought it Cabernet from mountain fruit, erroneously thinking about the source of the wine's rugged character. Good concentration, moderate length and nuance. Tannic finish.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Popped and poured. Fully mature red fruit with lots of meaty and earthy notes. Meatier spice than typical for Echezeaux, but overall very good Grand Cru concentration, moderate length. Better than another bottle probably from the same case tasted blind a few months back.
Opened and decanted one hour, then served to the tasting group double blind. Lots of red cherry throughout with black cherry hints. Nicely floral and spice start-to-finish as well showing very "Volnay" character, even if slightly more firm than you'd classically expect, but that's the heft of the vintage coming through. Very good textures and length.
Tasted double blind. Clearly another Napa Cabernet with lush black plum, cherry along with liqueur, vanilla and sweet spice. Clearly enough structure to maintain balance and a degree of elegance. Very good length. A very well made wine, even if not exactly my preferred style.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Clearly seemed to be fully mature Pinot Noir, but light on acidity so i wasn't sure if from Burgundy. Good weight and concentration with a fun cross-section of black and red fruit along with leather and braised meat. Moderate weight and length.
Enticing floral start that almost always makes me enjoy Tour Blanche. Rich and complex flavors start sweet, then botrytis comes forward, then lots of fruit. Very fun, very good.
2004 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva 89 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
Tasted double blind. Tart red cherry throughout with spice hints. Good+ concentration and length, just a slightly drying finish.
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1997 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Tasted double blind. Floral, red cherry and berry, nicely mature. Good length and textures kept adding nuance. Very tasty, but I'd consider this near the end of its optimal drinking window.
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2005 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 92 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted double blind. Came across slightly as Chateauneuf, from a very good and well balanced vintage. Black and red plum with some dark chocolate. Moderate weight with very good balance and very good length. Just entering its peak drinking window.
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2004 Peter Michael L'Esprit des Pavots 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
Tasted double blind. Seemed clearly Cali Cab, somehow I correctly thought it from Sonoma, probably just to be a contrarian. Nicely fresh, seemed younger than 2004 with a slightly sweet finish. Moderate concentration. Elegantly styled and structured.
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2005 Robert Foley Charbono 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted double blind. I thought it Cabernet from mountain fruit, erroneously thinking about the source of the wine's rugged character. Good concentration, moderate length and nuance. Tannic finish.
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1989 Bouchard Père et Fils Echezeaux 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Popped and poured. Fully mature red fruit with lots of meaty and earthy notes. Meatier spice than typical for Echezeaux, but overall very good Grand Cru concentration, moderate length. Better than another bottle probably from the same case tasted blind a few months back.
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2006 Lucien Le Moine Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
Opened and decanted one hour, then served to the tasting group double blind. Lots of red cherry throughout with black cherry hints. Nicely floral and spice start-to-finish as well showing very "Volnay" character, even if slightly more firm than you'd classically expect, but that's the heft of the vintage coming through. Very good textures and length.
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2012 Kongsgaard Cabernet Sauvignon
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted double blind. Clearly another Napa Cabernet with lush black plum, cherry along with liqueur, vanilla and sweet spice. Clearly enough structure to maintain balance and a degree of elegance. Very good length. A very well made wine, even if not exactly my preferred style.
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1997 Domaine Perrot-Minot Mazoyères-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru
Tasted double blind. Clearly seemed to be fully mature Pinot Noir, but light on acidity so i wasn't sure if from Burgundy. Good weight and concentration with a fun cross-section of black and red fruit along with leather and braised meat. Moderate weight and length.
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2001 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Enticing floral start that almost always makes me enjoy Tour Blanche. Rich and complex flavors start sweet, then botrytis comes forward, then lots of fruit. Very fun, very good.
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